The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Best Frame for Rodding up???

My Brother in law has gotten hooked. We've found him a 1954 3600 long box/5-Window sitting in a salvage yard for $700.00. The truck is missing both doors and the bull-nose grill, but everything else seems to be there, including the original engine ( which turned by hand, so not froze up ). But he wants to hot rod it up, put a 400 small block in it with a Holly intake and carb, ect. ect.
He also wants to put it on a newer frame. So I guess it's fabrication time at Ye old Shop O' Chevy.
My 1950 has a Camero front and an ElCamino-SS rear, and that seems to work well. I'm just wondering if anyone has any better suggestions for a frame to go under this 54 long box.

if the one thats under its not rusty keep it you wont find a stronger frame unless you want something lighter

For my truck, a little larger than yours though, I felt the stock frame was perfect for my needs, and I am changing/upgrading everything but the frame and sheet metal.

I prefer an I-beam front axle, so stock frame is great for me.

Grigg

Why does he want to put in on a newer frame? I don't ask that to challenge the decision, but because understanding what he wants to accomplish is likely to change my thoughts on the best approach.

I have one with a nearly stock frame and suspension and in fact drove it to work today. I've changed the rear axle to provide more highway friendly gears, and it has a 'modern' disk/drum braking system. I put modern in quotes because I know not everyone thinks '73 Chevelle parts are modern. Aside from those changes and new bushings and stuff, the frame and suspension are completely stock and I'm happy with it the way it is. At least for now...

I'm working on another which is going on an S-10 frame. I considered several different directions on this particular truck, and after starting down another path have come to the conclusion this is the best route for how I want to use this particular truck. The primary objective with this one is to create something my wife will be comfortable driving. After a couple decades of providing her vehicles I have a real good idea what that requires.

At the same time I'm preparing to start yet another project, this one to create the ultimate classic trailer puller. Starting with a 1-ton '54 GMC I want to pull a heavily loaded trailer with comfort and finesse. I haven't settled all the details yet, but just a couple sentences describing how I want it to perform and how I intend to use it make a lot of difference in thinking through what changes make sense. I know it will have a big V-8, a Chevy 454 being the smallest I've considered, but I also have a Cadillac 500 that may go in this one.

What you or your brother-in-law mean by 'hot rod it up' may be clear to you, but to me it could mean many things. Each of the trucks I've just described qualifies as a hot rod in at least some respects, but each is completely different under the sheet metal.

Respond with a couple sentences describing how he wants to use the finished truck and our advice will be that much more useful.

I agree with Grigg. Keep the frame & update the subspension & rearend.

he's wanting to lower the profile, without chopping the body. Also he's of the mind to build it so it'll do a 1/4 mile in about 6 seconds, so fast off the line. He also wants to put 60 inch tires under the rear, so we know the stock box will need some modification. He doesn't care about positrack, so that helps a little with the rear end options.
We have a 400 small block and the Holly intake and carb, elestric start and 400 turbo tranny to bolt upto. A drive shaft will have to be fabricated. We have the power steering set up out of a 87 Monti Carlo. He also wants to put an AC system in it.
This will be a fun project thru next winter. We hope to have the truck finished ( or ready to paint atleast ) by next spring.

That is fast, with a goal that high I expect it will be more of a drag truck and not so much (if at all) a street truck.

Weight may be the biggest factor in deciding what frame to use?

Grigg

The 60 series tires should not be a problem for that frame. It depends on the rim with and backspacing and the width of the rearend he uses. He may have to add wheel tubs. With the proper choice of front ends you can get it as low as you want it. That would be the easiest way to do it.

so you want the stock frame with a caddy rear with lowering kit and new springs this also gives you disks in the back then you want a rack up front with power steering with craigers and bf. goody tires youll be set dont forget the aluminum radiator all for under 2000. you wont do better for what you want!

On my 55 2nd series I kept the stock frame,and added a TCI independent frontend and lowered the rear using a TCI spring kit. I agree just use the stock frame and update the suspension.

Most guys wanting to swap their frame for a later model are looking for an easy upgrade for suspension and rear end. It seems to me, with all the fabrication needed with a frame upgrade, their not avoiding work their adding work. However your bro in law it seems, is wanting to build a "funnycar" instead of a daily driver.

Yeah, this is more for shows and the drag strip than for street legal. I'm trying to talk him into atleast making it street legal so he can drive it somewhere OFF a drag strip.lol.

A small block powered steel bodied pickup doing six second quarters? The bed of that pickup must be full of money.

That's exactly what I was thinking!

a bit, he works as a senior areo-space engineer for Raytheon Aircraft, so not exactly worried about the price of milk.

6 second 1/4 mile? In an AD truck with a small block? Has he calculated the kind of horsepower it's going to take to get that mass of steel down the track that fast?

Maybe with his aero-space background he's thinking rocket power, or a zero-gravity environment but I don't see this project getting anywhere close to 6 seconds. BUT - I wish him good luck and many happy hours of 'Bolt-buildin'

HOLY CRAPOLY 6 second 1/4 mile outta something as areodynamic as a brick sh$t house???? check this video out and see what it takes to go high 9s in a truck.

http://www.scheiddiesel.com/images/customers/Smith2007.wmv

he will need a 80 lb. plastic body not heavy metal

The siamesed exhaust ports limit the SBC's power to below anything that could propel AD to the 6's (10's maybe). Also, anything in the 10 second bracket or less needs cages, etc. If this is the desire, then your brother will simply need to contact a chassis builder for a purpose built chassis. Then I would get a fiberglass race body, lexan windows, Timing computer, Lenco Trans, etc. Lets not forget the Halon fire system, Fire Suite and needing get to know your race fuel supplier on a first name basis. Aerodynamics above 120 will be difficult with the existing shape, so there will be much aerowork

Now, if he wants to make a 11-12 second vehicle out of a truck, that is in the realm of possibility with existing body and frame. Practicality is another matter. For this, the stock frame would be fine. An IFS would help along with a 4-link rear. Search the forums, as there are many variations of IRS for a stock frame.

Just my $0.02 (and I dont claim to be a Rocket Scientist)

Scott

I am sure my 427 shelby cobra kit car won't even go under 11 sec. with a 5.0L v-8 and 1950 lbs curb weight. I can't even image hooking up the rear end on a long bed pickup to get the acceleration one would need to do 6 sec. I have a long bed AD in my driveway.

If he will slack up on the speed/acceleration expectations somewhat, make that a lot, then the stock frame would handle plenty of engine, and fits the truck better than any other frame out there.

If he must go that fast in an AD truck it would be a good idea to talk to several drag car/truck chassis builders, engine builders, and a banker.
Sure would be one of a kind when done, probably even set some records if you just get close to 6 second quarters.

Grigg